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145 killed as bandits attack 23 villages in Plateau
145 killed as bandits attack 23 villages in Plateau
No fewer than 145 persons are said to have been killed in bandits’ attacks on 23 villages in Plateau State.
The assailants reportedly killed 113 persons in 20 villages in Bokkos Local Government Area and 32 in three villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the villages were attacked from Saturday night to the early hours of Monday.
The attacks were also said to have left hundreds of people injured and property destroyed.
Areas affected included Ruku, Hurum, Darwat, Mai Yanga Sabo and NTV villages in the Gashish and Ropp districts.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area, Monday Kassah, confirmed the incident to reporters yesterday.
When contacted for reaction, the spokesman for the state police command, Alabo Alfred, did not respond to text messages sent to him by our correspondent.
But Captain Oya James, spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, a security taskforce maintaining peace in the state, confirmed the attacks to Daily Trust yesterday.
He, however, said he could not confirm the casualty figures at the moment, but said the situation had been brought under control.
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“For now, the situation has been brought under control. More reinforcement has been deployed in the affected communities. But I don’t have the figure of casualty at the moment,” James told one of our correspondents.
A humanitarian worker who spoke in confidence said they counted over 180 dead bodies from the attacks.
We’ve recovered 113 bodies – Council chair
The Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos LGA, Kassah, told journalists yesterday that 113 bodies were recovered from the attacks.
“The attacks were well coordinated, no fewer than 20 different communities were attacked by the bandits.
“As I am talking to you, we have recovered 113 dead bodies from those communities. We have recovered more than three hundred injured; some were taken to hospitals in Jos, some to hospitals in Barkin Ladi and others have been taken to hospitals in Bokkos.
“The security personnel have been doing their best, the difficult terrain reaching those communities has made the security not reaching there on time to prevent those communities,” Kassah stated.
The chairman of Barikin LGA, Danuma Dakil, who also spoke to Daily Trust yesterday, said the attackers killed 32 persons and burnt many houses in three villages in his local government area.
Dakil further stated that the search for more bodies was ongoing.
Attacks barbaric – Gov
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang described the attacks as barbaric, brutal and uncalled for.
According to a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor directed security agencies to promptly apprehend the attackers and ensure they face the full force of the law.
The governor, who expressed deep concern over the incident, urged communities across the state to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security forces for immediate action.
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He questioned “The impunity of the attackers who inflicted harm on communities, destroyed property and evaded justice.”
The governor assured that proactive measures would be taken to curb attacks on innocent citizens.
He sympathised with affected families, and urged them to find solace in God as the government diligently works to end the “prolonged violence.”
Residents narrate ordeals
An indigene of Darwat community, Friday Maska, told our correspondent that his mother and younger brother were injured in the attack.
Maska said his mother, Rebecca Maska, was pursued into the bush by the attackers and shot, but was lucky to survive.
He said his mother bled for about three hours before help came her way; while his brother, Nanpan Maska, had his hand cut off and head macheted.
He said both his mother and younger brother were rushed to the General Hospital in Barkin Ladi, but were later referred to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Maska said the assailants operated from 6pm to 11pm.
The Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), under the leadership of Solomon Dalyop Mwantiri Esq, condemned the attack, describing it as an act of terrorism.
The association, in a statement, by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, said the attack has already led to the complete displacement of thousands of persons.
Tengwong said the attack did not only demonstrate a blatant disregard for human life, but also sought to undermine the peace and unity that are at the core of their values.
He called on the international community to add its voice to the crisis on the Plateau, which has been going on for years.
“On a day meant to celebrate love, compassion, and togetherness, the perpetrators of this dastardly act have brought untold agony, suffering and grief to the affected communities.
“We call on the government and relevant authorities not only to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, identify those responsible, and bring them to justice, but to swiftly come up with palliative packages as well as compensation for the victims.
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“The BYM also urges the government to take immediate and decisive action to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety and security of all citizens regardless of their ethnic or religious background.
“We want to urge all Plateau sons and daughters to put aside their differences and come together to resist elements perpetrating the dastardly acts,” he said.
Not the first time
Hundreds of people had been killed in Plateau State within this year. Between January and June alone, a total of 201 people were reported killed in 27 attacks in seven local government areas of the state, including Riyom, Bokkos, Jos South, Jos East, Barkin Ladi, Bassa and Mangu, according to a tally by Daily Trust.
Attacks on communities in the state have been ongoing since the ethno-religious crisis broke out in Jos in 2001.
Since then, violence has spread to communities in the state, and there have been clashes between the farmers and the herdsmen with devastating consequences.
Three days ago, 22 persons were killed in attacks on Mangu and Bokkos apart from eight persons that were killed in an attack on Du village of Kwall District, Rigwe Chiefdom, in October.
The National Publicity Secretary, Irigwe Development Association (IDA), Davidson Malison, had said the incident in their communities had been a sad continuation of destruction of lives and properties of the people.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Plateau State Chapter, had also said they had lost many members owing to attacks on them in the latest resurgence of violence.
Take ownership of security, defence chief tells Nigerians
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has called on Nigerians to take ownership of security challenges in the country.
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He spoke yesterday at the Defence Headquarters Hospital located at Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, when he visited ailing personnel to mark Christmas and his birthday.
Musa, who also called on all Nigerians to have love for and confidence in Nigeria and fight together for its peace and progress, noted that running away from the country is not the solution to the present challenging situation.
He was explaining what he meant in his Christmas message that Nigerians should be united against the common enemies.
“It (Christmas message) entails that all Nigerians should take ownership of the challenges we’re facing as a country. The security challenges, especially, are not armed forces or police challenges or any individual parastatal.
“It is a collective effort for all Nigerians and all Nigerians should put hands together. We cannot do it alone. We need the support of everyone. When you see something, say something, talk as quickly as possible so that measures can be put in place.
“We will continue to seek support from members of the public to take ownership of our challenges. Nigeria is our own. If Nigeria succeeds, we all succeed, if Nigeria fails we all fail and we don’t want Nigeria to fail. So, I call on all Nigerians to give us all the support,” he said.
Musa told journalists that the visit to the hospital was in tune with his leadership concept, which is people-centric, adding that the outreach was to ensure that people, both the security agents and the citizens, felt the impact of love being shared, especially their healthcare.
According to him, it is always good at this period of celebration to come around and see how those who are in hospital who don’t have the ability to celebrate, how they are doing and to wish them well.
“It is for them to always know that we are always with them, we are praying with them and we want them to recover so that they can come back fully to life. We will continue to do that as we have been doing. So this is just not a one off thing, it is something we do regularly,” he added.
Speaking further, the defence chief said those traveling out of the country would not have countries to run to if the indigenes did not develop those countries.
He stated, “We must stay and fight whatever challenge is. Those countries they are running to, stood back and fought and got to where they are. If they had run away, they would not have achieved that for them to go and meet them.”
The CDS, who was flanked by his wife and other principal officers at Defence Headquarters, donated hampers and cash gifts to all the patients in the hospital during the visit.
145 killed as bandits attack 23 villages in Plateau
Daily Trust
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metro
Lagos Mechanic Lured With Mercedes Repair Job, Hacked to Death in Bush
Lagos Mechanic Lured With Mercedes Repair Job, Hacked to Death in Bush
A mechanic identified as Samson has allegedly been lured to his death in the Abijo area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, after receiving a request to repair a Mercedes-Benz.
The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday, September 15, after Samson, who operated a mechanic workshop around Warike Estate, left his workshop to attend to the vehicle repair request.
According to reports, the mechanic was contacted by people who claimed they needed his services to fix a Mercedes-Benz. He reportedly travelled to the location expecting to carry out a routine repair job.
However, he was allegedly taken into a nearby bush after arriving at the location, where he was reportedly hacked to death.
The circumstances surrounding the incident have raised concerns because Samson was said to have left his regular workplace in response to what appeared to be an ordinary request for his professional services.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed that the matter had been reported and said an investigation was underway.
Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said Samson’s family initially reported that they could no longer account for his whereabouts.
Following the report, detectives visited his apartment as part of efforts to establish his movements and determine what happened to him.
The police also began efforts to track Samson’s mobile phone, hoping that the location data and other evidence could help investigators reconstruct his movements after he left for the supposed repair job.
A police source said the investigation was aimed at establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident and identifying those responsible.
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The source also indicated that suspected cult members were believed to be connected with the attack.
However, the alleged cult connection and the motive for the killing have not been conclusively established by the police.
An anti-cultism advocacy platform separately alleged that Samson’s death could have been linked to an earlier cult-related killing in the Ibeju-Lekki area.
The platform claimed that a man identified as Ola Sheu, whom it described as a member of the Eiye confraternity, was killed around Adeba Bus Stop in Lakowe, Ibeju-Lekki, on September 9.
It further alleged that Sheu was killed by members of the NBM, also known as Aye, and that Samson was subsequently targeted in what may have been a retaliatory attack.
According to the advocacy platform, a graduation photograph allegedly showing Samson wearing a beret associated with the Aye group was circulated and may have exposed him to people involved in the alleged cult rivalry.
The claim remains an allegation and has not been independently established as the motive for Samson’s disappearance or reported death.
Police investigators are expected to establish whether the Mercedes-Benz repair request was genuine, who contacted Samson, where he was taken after arriving at the location and who was responsible for the alleged attack.
They are also expected to determine whether the incident was connected to the alleged cult dispute or resulted from another motive.
The case has also drawn attention to the security risks faced by mechanics, artisans and other service providers who respond to jobs at unfamiliar locations.
Such workers often travel alone to customers’ homes, workshops, roadside locations or other places to provide services, making it difficult for relatives or colleagues to immediately know where they are when something goes wrong.
For now, no suspect has been publicly identified by the police in connection with the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Samson’s disappearance and reported killing and determine who was behind the attack.
Further information from the police is expected as the investigation progresses.
Lagos Mechanic Lured With Mercedes Repair Job, Hacked to Death in Bush
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metro
Woman Crushed to Death During Motorcycle Overtaking Manoeuvre in Ogun
Woman Crushed to Death During Motorcycle Overtaking Manoeuvre in Ogun
A woman has been crushed to death by a truck after falling from a motorcycle during an overtaking manoeuvre on the Agbara-Lusada Expressway in Ogun State.
The fatal road accident occurred around 7pm on Saturday at Cashier Bus Stop, in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.
The crash involved a white Howo truck and two motorcycles, with five people reportedly involved in the incident.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the accident and said preliminary findings indicated that the crash was linked to an improper overtaking manoeuvre.
According to Akinbiyi, one of the motorcycles was attempting to overtake the truck when its female passenger fell off the motorcycle and came under the moving truck.
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“The RTA/RTC was caused by wrong overtaking on the part of the Okada rider, which led one of the Okada passengers to fall under the truck, which claimed her life,” he said.
The truck involved was identified as a white Howo truck with registration number T-34611LA. The registration numbers of the two motorcycles were not displayed.
Akinbiyi said the five people involved comprised three males and two females.
Two people, a male and a female, sustained injuries in the crash.
The injured victims were reportedly taken to a hospital by a good Samaritan before traffic officials arrived at the scene.
The woman who died was later taken away by her family.
Following the crash, the truck was moved into police custody to assist further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
TRACE operatives and PAPA OSCAR responders were deployed to the scene, where they assisted with managing the aftermath of the crash and clearing the affected section of the road.
The accident caused concern among road users as emergency responders worked to remove the vehicles and restore the flow of traffic along the busy expressway.
The latest incident has again drawn attention to the dangers associated with improper overtaking, particularly on roads frequently used by motorcycles and heavy-duty vehicles.
Traffic authorities routinely advise motorists and motorcycle riders to maintain safe distances, avoid risky manoeuvres and obey traffic regulations, especially when travelling alongside articulated and heavy-duty trucks.
The Agbara-Lusada Expressway is an important transport route linking communities and industrial areas in Ogun State, with significant commercial and commuter traffic.
The authorities are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, while road users have been urged to exercise greater caution to reduce the risk of further fatal road crashes.
Woman Crushed to Death During Motorcycle Overtaking Manoeuvre in Ogun
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My Heart Has Always Been Home With You — Tinubu’s Powerful Message to Oluremi at 66
My Heart Has Always Been Home With You — Tinubu’s Powerful Message to Oluremi at 66
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, on her 66th birthday, describing her as his “truest friend and confidante” and saying he would choose the same path that led him to her if he had the opportunity to begin life again.
Oluremi Tinubu, who turns 66 on Monday, September 21, 2026, received the tribute in a deeply personal birthday message issued by the President.
Tinubu recalled their years together, describing his wife as a source of patience, courage, honesty, faith and counsel, particularly during difficult periods of their lives.
He said Oluremi had often understood his concerns even before he expressed them and had remained willing to tell him difficult truths when necessary.
“More often than not, you sense when I need counsel before I ask,” the President said, adding that there had been occasions when her presence alone was enough to provide him with the counsel he needed.
Tinubu said he particularly valued her willingness to speak plainly, even when her words were not what he wanted to hear.
“I call you my truest friend and confidante because you speak the truth plainly, even on the days I would rather not hear it,” he said.
The President also praised Oluremi for her role in their family, saying their children and grandchildren had grown under the influence of her prayers, faith and values.
He described her as compassionate and generous and said her humanitarian activities had touched the lives of young people, widows, elderly citizens, women farmers and people living with diseases.
Tinubu traced her public service and humanitarian work from the New Era Foundation to her current activities through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
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Oluremi Tinubu founded the New Era Foundation in 2000, with its activities focused on areas including youth development, girl-child education and women empowerment.
She later entered elective politics and represented Lagos Central Senatorial District in the Senate for three consecutive terms after being elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015 and 2019.
As First Lady of Nigeria, she has continued her social intervention activities through the RHI, which focuses on areas including education, healthcare, agriculture, economic empowerment and social investment.
Her recent engagements have included programmes targeting women, young people, vulnerable households and communities across the country.
In August, the RHI announced a ₦819 million empowerment programme for 1,638 widows of fallen military and police personnel, with each beneficiary receiving ₦500,000 to start or expand a business.
The First Lady has also recently intensified her activities around women’s economic empowerment and food security.
The RHI announced the distribution of empowerment items to 2,500 women in the South-East geopolitical zone, while Oluremi Tinubu also backed the Agri360 Mechanisation Training Initiative, which targets 5,000 women and young people with training in agricultural mechanisation, digital agriculture, equipment operation and maintenance, entrepreneurship and agribusiness management.
The First Lady said empowering women and young people with skills, tools and opportunities was important to the future of Nigerian agriculture and food security.
She also launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-East in Anambra State.
The programme is designed to provide food assistance and nutrition support to vulnerable groups, including widows, elderly people, persons with disabilities, nursing and lactating mothers and young children.
During the Anambra visit, Oluremi Tinubu also inaugurated an ICT Experience Centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, while a separate state empowerment programme provided business grants, vocational tools and equipment to thousands of beneficiaries across the state’s 21 local government areas.
The President, in his birthday message, said his wife’s compassion had extended beyond ethnic, regional and religious boundaries.
“I know the prayers you offer for people whose names you may never know. I also know many whom you have helped without ever meeting them. For you, compassion has never recognised the boundaries of tribe, region or religion,” he said.
Tinubu also reflected on the sacrifices and difficult decisions they had faced together, saying their relationship had endured through periods of uncertainty, with prayer and laughter helping them through challenging moments.
He then delivered the most personal part of the birthday tribute, saying he would make the same choice again if given another opportunity.
“If life returned me to the beginning, I would choose the same road that led me to you. Through every mile, my heart has always remained at home with you,” the President said.
He thanked his wife for the life they had built together and prayed for her continued health, happiness and longevity.
“Happy 66th birthday, my darling Oluremi,” Tinubu said.
“May the years ahead bring you the same comfort and happiness you have so freely given to me and many others.”
The birthday message comes against the backdrop of Oluremi Tinubu’s continuing public engagements through the Renewed Hope Initiative, with recent programmes spanning food support, women’s empowerment, agricultural training, education and assistance for vulnerable Nigerians.
My Heart Has Always Been Home With You — Tinubu’s Powerful Message to Oluremi at 66
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